University of New Hampshire Athletics
Chertock, Grier Named to America East Preseason All-Conference Team
8/12/2026 12:01:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Both players are coming off a Second Team All-Conference appearance in 2025.
BOSTON — Senior middle blocker Rachel Grier (Dublin, Calif.) and sophomore outside hitter Lucy Chertock (Danville, Calif.) were each named to the America East Preseason All-Conference Team, as announced by the conference on Wednesday (Aug. 12).
Grier enters her senior season following a 2025 campaign that saw the middle blocker record 212 kills across 88 sets, averaging 2.41 kills per set, which ranked second-most on the Wildcats' roster. Additionally on offense, Grier landed 18 service aces, a .396 hitting percentage on 37 errors, ranking second-best across the conference last year, and 289.5 points (3.29 points/set), sixth-most across the league in 2025. Defensively, Grier paced the Wildcats in blocks, posting 102.0 total on 17 solo blocks and 85 block assists (1.16 blocks/set), tied for second-most across America East.
Chertock finished her America East Rookie of the Year campaign with 274 kills across 85 sets (3.22 kills/set) while also producing a team-high 309.5 points (3.64 points/set), with both values ranking most on the Wildcats' roster and fifth-most across the conference in 2025. Defensively, Chertock managed 175 digs (2.06 digs/set), ranking third-most on New Hampshire's roster last season and finished the year with seven double-doubles, closing out on a three-game double-double streak.
As a team, the Wildcats were picked to finish fifth in the conference, receiving 11 votes, while defending conference champions UMBC were picked to repeat with 25 points and five first-place votes.
Bryant closed the voting in second with 20 points and one first-place vote, while Binghamton finished in third (16 points), UAlbany ended in fourth (12 points), and NJIT closed out in sixth (six points).
The Wildcats open the season against the University of New Haven on Friday, August 28, at 7pm in Lundholm Gymnasium.
Grier enters her senior season following a 2025 campaign that saw the middle blocker record 212 kills across 88 sets, averaging 2.41 kills per set, which ranked second-most on the Wildcats' roster. Additionally on offense, Grier landed 18 service aces, a .396 hitting percentage on 37 errors, ranking second-best across the conference last year, and 289.5 points (3.29 points/set), sixth-most across the league in 2025. Defensively, Grier paced the Wildcats in blocks, posting 102.0 total on 17 solo blocks and 85 block assists (1.16 blocks/set), tied for second-most across America East.
Chertock finished her America East Rookie of the Year campaign with 274 kills across 85 sets (3.22 kills/set) while also producing a team-high 309.5 points (3.64 points/set), with both values ranking most on the Wildcats' roster and fifth-most across the conference in 2025. Defensively, Chertock managed 175 digs (2.06 digs/set), ranking third-most on New Hampshire's roster last season and finished the year with seven double-doubles, closing out on a three-game double-double streak.
As a team, the Wildcats were picked to finish fifth in the conference, receiving 11 votes, while defending conference champions UMBC were picked to repeat with 25 points and five first-place votes.
Bryant closed the voting in second with 20 points and one first-place vote, while Binghamton finished in third (16 points), UAlbany ended in fourth (12 points), and NJIT closed out in sixth (six points).
The Wildcats open the season against the University of New Haven on Friday, August 28, at 7pm in Lundholm Gymnasium.
2026 America East Volleyball Preseason Awards
Preseason Poll
1. UMBC - 25 (5)
2. Bryant - 20 (1)
3. Binghamton - 16
4. UAlbany - 12
5. New Hampshire - 11
6. NJIT 6
Preseason All-Conference
OH Jalynn Brown (UMBC)
OH Lucy Chertock (New Hampshire)
RS Maya Coblentz-Brown (Binghamton)
RS Viktoria Dimitrova (Binghamton)
MB Rachel Grier (New Hampshire)
DS/L Hannah Howard (UMBC
S Madison Koeller (Bryant)
MB Brookelyn Talmadge (Bryant)
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Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
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